Working at Equinoterapia: July 9th & 11th

     This week we started to get a lot more involved at work. I remember back when we received the notification of where we would be working before we even left for Mexico, I wondered if I would actually be giving the children physical therapy. So far at work we had been pulling the horses around and just assisting. But this week we got to do what I thought we were not going to be allowed to do. Carolina instructed us on how to give the children physical therapy and Yamila and I got to do so. We could not believe it at first when she told us we could get up on the horse with the children. It didn't take too long for Yamila and I to pretty much be physical therapists. From then on Yamila and I were the ones who were giving the physical therapy. There were even a few days were Carolina would go do errands or come in late and she would tell us that we could be in charge while she was not there.
     Each day we probably both gave therapy to about 2-3 children. At first it was really scary. You can't hold on to the horse because you need to hold on to the child so we had to have really good balance on top of the horse. Yamila went first and then she would help me with what to say in Spanish. We had our routines where we would stretch their upper body first and then there lower body. There were some different things you would do with different children. Some of the children you would stand up, some you would have sit sideways, some you would have lay down across the horse.
     I consistently gave therapy to the cutest little 13 month old girl named Emily. She was so precious and would give me and the horse kisses at the end. I was really scared the first time I gave her therapy because she was so tiny and light, I held on to her so tight. It didn't take too long for me to feel comfortable and confident up there. Emily was born prematurely so her muscles were not developing at the rate they should be. She had been coming to Equinoterapia since she was 8 months old and had been consistently improving. She was so cute and it was so rewarding when I would get her to laugh or smile. There were even a few times she was so relaxed she would fall asleep while up on the horse. It was a very cool experience.
     Before we had started giving therapy Carolina told us how just about everything we were doing would be illegal to do in the US. Even someone who just pulls the horse around would have to be certified. The person giving the therapy to the child on the horse has to go to PT school and several other certifications, where we had nothing. It was a little scary to hear that, but at the same time it made me realize how lucky I was to be there because at home I would never get that type of opportunity. From then on Yamila and I were the ones giving physical therapy.

- Lindsay